Koper, Stephen

Brigadier General Stephen M. Koper retired as Deputy Chief of Staff , Headquarters Ohio Air National Guard on 1 October 1996. He was responsible for development of strategic planning for the Ohio ANG, management of the Headquarters staff and other activities as directed by the Chief of Staff. Concurrently, General Koper served on the NGB/ANG Long Range Planning Group for three years. He led the first Ohio ANG visitation to the Republic of Hungary, Ohio’s partner in the Partnership for Peace initiative.

The general was born April 13, 1941, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received a BA degree in Economics from Miami University in 1964. He enlisted in the Air National Guard with the 123rd AC&W Squadron, Blue Ash, Ohio in March 1964. He received a direct commission as a second lieutenant in December 1968.

In his civilian career, Brig. Gen. Koper assumed his duties as President of the national Guard Association of the United States in July 2004. He had previously served as Deputy Director, Public Relations, Adjutant General’s Department, State of Ohio from 2000-2004. He continues as president of S. K. Graphics, Inc., a print consulting and brokerage firm. He has served as a director and subsequently chairman of the Printing Industries Association of Southern Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio National Guard Association with service in various committee assignments, two terms as a trustee, and two terms as president of the Association. He is a Retired Life member of the National Guard Association of the United States and served as a member of its Executive Council in 1995-96. He is a life member of the Reserve Officer’s Association and a member of the Air Force Association.

Brig. Gen. Koper served from 1995-2004 as the Executive Director of the Ohio National Guard Association with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of that organization. In 2000, he was elected President of the National Guard Executive Director’s Association. He is a charter member of the Finneytown Civic Association, past president of the Finneytown Boosters Association, and a member of the President’s Club of Miami University.

Brig. Gen. Koper lives in Arlington, VA. He has two grown children, Marcy and Andy.